Robert Jensen Dau Foundation
Robert Jensen Dau Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Lake Forest, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 10 grants totaling $128K. Net investment income was $50K.
Key facts about Robert Jensen Dau Foundation
In short: Robert Jensen Dau Foundation gave $128K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Michigan. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-3548984
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $127,605
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- Average grant
- $12,761
- Median grant
- $4,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,498,491
- Primary geography
- Michigan (50% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5M
-7.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$128K
+2.1% YoY
Grant Count
10
+11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-8.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert Jensen Dau Foundation reported a distributable amount of $174K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Robert Jensen Dau Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 10 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS Bay Harbor, MI | GENERAL FUNDS | $51,500 |
| PEN AMERICA New York, NY | TO FUND THE ROBERT J DAU SHORT STORY PRIZE FOR EMERGING WRITERS. | $33,000 |
| CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN Glencoe, IL | GENERAL FUNDS | $20,000 |
| CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMFORTER Kenilworth, IL | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
| CITY KIDS WILDERNESS PROJECT Washington, DC | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
| BAY VIEW CHAMBER MUSIC Petoskey, MI | SPONSORSHIP OF MUSIC SERIES | $4,000 |
| BAY VIEW ASSOCIATION Petoskey, MI | MUSICIAN SCHOLARSHIP | $3,250 |
| PETOSKEY HARBOR SPRINGS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Petoskey, MI | SCHLORSHIPS TO PETOSKEY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS | $3,000 |
| CHARLEVOIX-EMMET ISD Charlevoix, MI | GENERAL FUNDS | $1,855 |
| ST MARGARETS CHURCH Palm Desert, CA | MUSIC FUND | $1,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,498,491 | $1,614,919 | $1,577,717 |
| Revenue | $82,370 | $197,170 | $21,530 |
| Expenses | $198,798 | $159,968 | $121,401 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $170,359 | $134,419 | $102,525 |
| Net Investment Income | $49,931 | $171,621 | $11,562 |
| Distributable Amount | $173,574 | $163,645 | $140,677 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 5, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 31, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 1, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Robert Jensen Dau Foundation is led by Fernanda D. Fisher, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Fernanda D. Fisher
President
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian T. Fisher
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sofie Fisher
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Kirk Hoopingarner (2022–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Robert T. Napier (2019–2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Robert Jensen Dau Foundation
How much does Robert Jensen Dau Foundation give each year?
Robert Jensen Dau Foundation gave $128K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $125K across 9 grants.
What is Robert Jensen Dau Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert Jensen Dau Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,500, and its average grant was $12,761, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert Jensen Dau Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Robert Jensen Dau Foundation give grants?
Robert Jensen Dau Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (26%) and Illinois (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Petoskey, MI (3 grants).
Does Robert Jensen Dau Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Robert Jensen Dau Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robert Jensen Dau Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert Jensen Dau Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Great Lakes Center for the Arts ($51,500), Pen America ($33,000) and Chicago Botanic Garden ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert Jensen Dau Foundation?
Robert Jensen Dau Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $170K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $174K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Robert Jensen Dau Foundation?
Robert Jensen Dau Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Lake Forest, IL. It holds $1.5M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Robert Jensen Dau Foundation's EIN?
Robert Jensen Dau Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3548984. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching Robert Jensen Dau Foundation by hand.
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